Tourist’s chilling last selfie seconds before snow leopard brutally mauls her

The tourist took a picture showing a large snow leopard with its ears peeled back and legs tucked into a pounce position seconds before she was attacked in Xinjiang, China

A doomed tourist took a photo smiling next to a snow leopard seconds before the animal launched into a brutal attack that left her bleeding from her face.

The skiier had a brush with death on the slopes in the skiing resort of Koktokay, in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, after spotting the predator wandering through the snow. She was among a group of passers-by who reportedly happened on the beast and decided to get a closer look.

The unnamed female tourist got too close a look, however, after she decided to come within just a few feet of the animal and take a selfie before it launched into a ferocious attack.

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The cat, which she pictured with its ears back and seemingly ready to pounce, descended on her just a few seconds later, leaving her with serious injuries. Additional footage taken at the scene and posted on social media showed the leopard left her lying motionless in the snow, while it calmly sat alongside her.

Witnesses said the animal – some of which can grow up to six or seven feet – mauled her face and came dangerously close to raking its teeth across her skull. However, she was thankfully saved by her skiing helmet.

Then a ski instructor reportedly stepped in and scared off the animal by waving his poles at the big cat, chasing it back into the snowy undergrowth. Bystanders forced to stand by while the horror attack unfolded then rushed in and dragged her away from the animal’s clutches.

A video taken at the scene showed her being walked away from the off piste area by authorities. She could be seen clutching at her face, with her gloves dotted with specks of blood.

The blood from her wounds also spilled out onto her purple ski suit, which appeared to have been left stained red as she was rushed to the Fuyun County People’s Hospital. Doctors at the hospital later confirmed the woman had not sustained life-threatening injuries from the attack, and was in a stable condition.

Local authorities later confirmed repeated snow leopard sightings in the area near the resort town, which is visited by up to one million people per year. They said they had released a series of several safety warnings for tourists following the Snow Leopard sightings, detailing the “strong aggressive tendencies” of the animals.

The warning stated: “Recently, snow leopard activity has been detected in Gem Valley, Keketuohai. Snow leopards are large predators with strong aggressive tendencies. When passing through this area, please move quickly and do not linger. Do not get out of your vehicle or approach to take photos, and never walk alone in the surrounding area.”